# NTSB SEA87LA038: Cessna 172, N739LH, Yamhill, OR, December 20, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1986, 14:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Yamhill, OR
- Location: 45.3615° N, 123.3533° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FLYING M (OR05), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3615&lon=-123.3533&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40575/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87LA038

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS LANDING ON A ONE WAY SHORT NARROW AIRSTRIP. HE STATED A GUST OF WIND OCCURRED JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BOUNCED AND THE PLT ADDED POWER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN NOSED OVER INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N739LH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270624
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Kirby
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: KLS, KELSO, WA
- Destination: OR05, YAMHILL, OR
- Airport: OR05, Flying M Ranch, runway 26, 2,130 × 45 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 8 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19861220068709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861220068709A), Dec 20, 1986: Cessna 172N, Yamhill, OR, Substantial damage. The aircraft bounced on landing. Pilot reported gusting winds.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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